Automatic firearm.



N. C. SGHELLENGER.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNI: 25.1908.

MHH/6556.5:

N. C. SGHELLENGER.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25.11908.

Patented June 18,1912.

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4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

www/65565 M M M w /m QM N. G. SGHELLENGER. AUTOMATIG FIRBARM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25,1908.

Patented June 18, 1912.

NEWTON C. SCHELLENGER, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1912.

Application led June 25, 1908. Serial No. 440,290.

' To LZ1 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NEWTON C. ScHEL- LENGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of i Salt Lake and lState of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Firearms, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to automatic lirearms of the type in which the ejector, the hammer-cooking mechanism, and the mechanism for feeding a fresh cartridge to the firing chamber are automatically operated, due to the forces incident tothe discharge of the arm. ln ajiirearm of this character it is absolutely essential that so-ine means shall be lprovided to keep the breech of the gun closed after discharge, or substantially so, for a suiiicienttime to permit the pressure of the powder gases in the barrel to be reduced below the danger point, otherwise these gases would escape at the breech of the gun and do serious injury to the user of the gun.

The object of my invention is to produce a rearm whose barrel is substantially stationary during discharge and in whichl the position of the breech-block with respect to the gun-barrel, during a portion of the time thatit takes the bullet to pass through thev barrel, is controlled by positively acting mechanism, either to lock the breech-block to the barrel during this time o-r to allow of a gradual movement of the breech-block away from the barrel. To accomplish this result I provide a locking member adapted .40 to engage the breech-block, the engagement between these two parts being such thatf'it can be overcome by sufficient force exerted on the breech-block. But this locking member is connected with the barrel in such a manner that the inertia of the barrel and its tendency to move forward with the bullet,

due tothe friction of the bullet on the barrel,

holds the locking member in engagement with the breech-block with such force as to prevent its being overcome by the pressure which the powder gases exe-rt on the breechblock tending to drive it to the rear. After .the bullet has traversed a portion of the barrels length its drag on the barrel materially decreases or ceases and the pressure of the powder gases is suliicient at this time to overcome the engagement between the locking member and the breech-block a'nd drives the breech-block to the rear of the receiver to extract' and eject the cartridge, 60 cock the hammer and compress the reaction spring, which in turn returns the breech block to its normal liring position.

I have illustrated my invention in two different embodiments. 65

Figure 1 illustrates in side elevation a.

rifle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the breech part of the arm. Fig. 3 is a partial central horizontal longi- 70 tudinal sect-ion view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the breech-block and the locking lever of the vembodiment illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the locking lever of Fig. 2, the fore-stock being removed to reveal the construction of the locking lever. Fig. 6 is a crossssectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a crosssectional vi'ew taken on lines 7w7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 80 shows, in a longitudinal vertical sectional View, the essential mechanism of another embodiment of the breech-block and locking mechanism. Fig. 9 is a partial horizontal longitudinal section view on line 9-9 of 85 Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the breech-block mechanism, taken on line 10-10-of Fig..'8. Fig. 11 illustrates, in longitudinal section, a modification of the fore end of the gun-barrel.

Referring firstto the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, ete., the butt stock is shown at 11, the gun frame at 12, the fore stock at 13, the receiver at 14, and the barrel at 15. It will be noted that the receiver extends forwardly some ydistance around the gun-barrel, this part of the re- Vceiver being bored ,to receive the cylindrical gun-barrel. The barrel is fitted to slide easily within the tubular extension 16 of the receiver. The frame provides ways 17 upon which the feet 18 of the breech-block 19 may ride. The breech-block is fitted also to the top of the receiver, so that the breech-block is well guided and supported in its to and fro movement to be described. At its forward end the breech-blocknis provided with hooks or catches 20-20, one on either side of a heavy tongue 21 which is formed integrall y with the receiver shell. These hooks 110 or catches on the breech-block coperate with catches 22-22 upon the rearward arms of the vlocking lever 23, this lever being pivoted at 24 to the tongue 21. The abutment piece 25, depending from the gunbarrel and preferably formed integrally therewith, is provided with surfaces concentric with respect to the pivot upon which the locking lever. 23 swings. At 26 the locking lever is provided with an opening to receive the abutment piece 25. .The iit ofthe abutment' piece in the openin Y, 26 is a loose one, so that under normal conditions the lockingl lever is free to swing.. The latching spring 27 exs erts a downward pressure' upon the forward end of the locking lever, thereby maintaining the'engagement of the hooks or vlatches 22 with those of the breech-block. The pressure of thespring is only a slight one, and

the engaging surfaces of the catches 20 and 22 are so inclined that nov very great rear-V ward force need be exerted against the breech-block to cause the rearward end of the locking lever 23 to be depressed, thus un locking the breech-block and leaving it free to traverse the receiver shell. As will be more fully explained, it is the forward presyse barrel.

Y oted to the breech-block the well known with the-socketed plunger end 30 of the reaction spring 31. The reaction spring is' contained in a metal casing 32, indicated in dotted lines in Fig.v 1, this casing extending down into the butt stock,.as shown. When the breech-block moves to the rear the reaction spring is'- compressed and returns the breech-block to its .forward position, as shown in Fig. 2, 4 after a discharge. The hammer 35 is pivoted t0 the gun frame at 36, and carries a hardened roller 37 against 'which the hammer spring 38 may act. 'The trigger 37 is pivoted to the frame at 39, and a light spring 40 serves' to return the trigger to its normal position, as shown in the d rawings. The magazine box 4 1v contains the cartridges, which are fed to the topy of the box by a. follow-.up spring, not shown, in manner. The breech-block is provided -Witha depending rib. 42 which engages` the cartridges upon the forward strokeof the breech-block and carries them from the kmagazine into the chamber of the gun-barrel, one such cartridge being indi- *i cated at 43. The breech-block is provided reaction sprin cartridge is exploded when the hammer is released by the trigger, this-release serving to drive the end of the iirin'g pin into the primer of the cartridge. The' discharge'of the cartridgev sends the bullet forward through thel barrel. The catches 22 of the latching member A23 normally engage the catches 20 of the breech-block extensions, but inv such a manner thatthe backward pressure of the shell against the breechblock, due Ato the expanding powder gases, could overcome this engagement were it not for the fact that the friction of the bullet against the sides of the gun-barrel causes a forward pressure of the abutment 25 against the forward end of the lever 23 suicient to prevent the backward pressure of the breechblock from overcoming. the locking which is effected by the catches 20-22. The result is that the breech-block will be retained in its forwardv position in engagement with the rear end of the gun-barrel until the force of the forward drag of the bullet on the barrel falls to such a point that the pressure which the Gases are exerting on the shell and breech- -lock overcomes the locking engagement. When the forward pressure of the gun-barrel will no longer serve to act upon the forward end ofthe locking lever to retain it in the normal position shown in' the drawings, the breechblock will disengage itself from thelocking member and will be forced rapidly-to the rear end of the receiver, due to the backward pressure of therapidly expanding gases which act against the shell. During the vbackward stroke of the breech-block, the extractor 45 withdraws the empty shell frointhefiring chamber, whereupon the nose 46 of the ejector 47 strikes the end of the shell to throw it out 4of the receiver through the openii'lg 48. During the backward stroke ofthe breech-block the pitman connecting with the v lcauses the compression of this spring until the breech-block reaches the rear end of the receiver. The reaction spring `then serves rapidly to return -the i breech-bloeittothe forward end of the receiver. In so dingrthe projection upcn the lowerside off the breech-block engages a shell which has' been fedt'onthe top of' theI magazine box, whereupon'a fresh cartrldge is fed to the chamber as: the breech-block .comes home' to the position shown 1n Fig'.

2 of vthe 'drawin operation` takes place atQmatical y with each-discharge oi'Y Y, Y

'the firearm, so that vitis merely necessary for the operator to actuate .theI trigger.

I have not encumbered the drawings nor description with any of the safety appli-k the very slightest degree of movement in 4V'the gun fram/ or receiver.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the mechanism is substantially the same as that already described'eXcept in the following particulars. The locking member 50 is pivoted at 51 to the gun-barrel and is fulcrumed on the frame by means of the interengaging teeth .illustrated at 54-55. The locking member engages at its rear end 56 with a projection upon the lower sideof the breech-block 57. The front side of the locking member, which is presented to View in Fig. 8, is cut awa;-Y to permit the ejection of the empty shells. The other side of the locking member is formed as indicated in the dotted line at 58, thus giving suificient strength to lock the breech-block firmly to the butt end of the barrel. ln this embodiment of my invent-ion the barrel has a definite, thoughvery slight, longitudinal movement, andP in its normal firing position, as indicated in Fig. 8, the barrel is at the forward limit of its movement. When the cartridge is exploded the rapidly expanding gases cause a backward pressure to be exerted against the breech-block and a forward pressure against the buliet. rlhis rearward pressure will not, however, serve to unlock the breech for the reason that the inertia of the barrel and its tendency to move forward `with the bullet, due to the frictional engagement of the bullet on the sides of the barrel, holds the barrel in its normal tiring position and so holds the locking lever firmly in contact with the rear end of the breech-block. When the bullet has traversed a portion of the barrels length toa point where the influence of the bullet on the barrel tending to drag it forwardl has been materially reduced or has ceased, the rearward pressureof the gases causes the breech-block to disengage from the locking lever, which in effect means that the breech-block depresses the rear end of the locking lever, rocking it on its fulcrmn, and moving the barrel slightly to the rear.

The initial impulse given to the breech-block by the gases gives itsufficient momentum to carry 1t to the rear of the receiver as soon as it is released from the locking lever, ex-

tracting and ejecting the cartridge, cooking the hammer, and compressing the reaction spring which then throws the breech-block forward to its normal firing position durin which movement a new cartridge is fed into the firing chamber.

It will be understood that in both embodiment-s of my invention the angle of inclination of the engaging surfaces onthe locking member and the breech-block must be laid out in relation to other parts of the gun in order that the'balance and proper operation of the gun may at all times be insured.

Another detail which I have illustrated in the embodiment of Fig. 8, which however does not affectt-he broad principle of operation of my gun, is the buffer-spring G0 and buffer 61, which aid in t-he sudden reversal ofthe direction of motion of the breechblock after discharge and serve also to relieve the shock which might sometimes occur due to the breech-block striking the rear end of the receiver. I have also shown in this .ligure a spring-actuated toe G2 on the breech-block for engaging the cartridges in the magazine and carrying them forward into the firing chamber of the gun-barrel.

At the moment of discharge the pressure of the powder gases rises very sharply to maximum and as the bullet commences to move through the barrel the pressure grad'- ually drops. The first effect of this pressure on the bullet is `tospread it and drive it into the rifling; then as the bullet traverses the barrel and the pressure drops the spreading effectceases and the bullet ehtains a free spinning fit in the barrel. The forward drag 0f the bullet on the barrel is greatest, of course, when the bullet is being sized, and is much less after the bullet hasl ing of the breech, commencing just a 't'tcr the ignition, it can be done by changing the angles of inclination of the locking faces en the' locking member and the hrceclrblm-k, making the-m less abrupt. B v this arrangement the barrel, influenced bv the bullet traveling through it, holds the locking faces in engagement with sutl'icient force to canse them to act as a brake, retarding the movement of the breech-block. The angles ot' inclination of the engaging faces can he calculated to exert any retarding etect which is desired and in this way a definite and lill) with my invention. I do not, however, debreech.

known controllingv force can be exerted on the barrel during discharge serving to mainthe movement of the breech-bloclr.- tain the llocking member 1n itsnormal posi- I have illustrated and described two ways tion in opposition tothe pressure of theof building a gun to operate in accordance breech-closing memberv tending to open the zo sire to be understood as limiting myself to 7. In a firearm, the combination of a barthe precise arrangements herein shown as I rel, a breech-block, means controlled bythe am, well aware that the invention is susforward pressureof the barrel during disceptible of a variety of embodiments, and charge tolock the breech-block to the bar- 1@ believing that I am the rst to produce a rel, anda reaction spring acting upon the 75 practical operative gun in which the locking breech-block to return 1t to the rmg pesiof the breech to the barrel during discharge tion. f Y is controlled by the induence which the 8. In a firearm, the combination of a barbullet exerts on the barrel, I desire to inrel, means for closing the breech, means conclude herein and in Vthe accompanying trolled by the forward pressure of the gun 80 claims any and all modifications in which barrel during discharge for maintaining the i my invention is or may be embodied. breech in closed condition during discharge, What l Claim 3S HCW and GSH'S EO secure the breech-block being released upon a by Letters Patent of the United States is: diminution in the forward pressure of the l; In a firearm, the combination of a barbarrel, and a reaction spring acting upon 85 rel, a breech-block, a frame supporting the 1 the breech-block to return i to the firing breech-block and'barrel, and a locking memposition after recoil. ber mounted on the frame and connected 9. In a firearm, the combination of al barwith and acted upon by barrel and breechrel, abreech-block, a frame supporting the blOCkbreech-block and barrel, a locking member 90 2. In a firearm, the combination of a barmounted on the frame and connected with rel, a breech-block, a frame in Which the and acted upon by barrel and breech-block, breech-block is slidablymounted, a locking and a reaction spring tending to close' the member fulcrumed upon Athe frame and breech.

adapted when in its normal position to lock l0. In a firearm, the combinationv of a bar# 95 the breech-block to the barrel, .and means rel, a breech-block, a frame in which the whereby the forward pressure of the barrel breech-block is slidably mounted, a locking during discharge k'acts upon the locking member fulcrumed upon the frame and member to maintain the breech-block in its adaptedwhen in its normal position to lock normal position'. the breech-block to the'barrel, means Where- 100 3. In a firearm, the combination of a nonby the forward pressure of the barrel durrotatable barrel, a breech-block, and means ing discharge acts upon the locking memcontrolled by the forward pressure of the ber to maintain the breech-block in its norbarrel during discharge to` lock thc breechmal position, and a reaction 'spring acting 40 block to the barrel. upon the breech-block and frame and tend- 105 4. In a firearm, the combination of a noning to return the breech-block to its normal rotatable barrel, a reciprocating breechposition.

. block, and means controlled by the forward 11. In a firearm, the combination of a pressure of the barrel during discharge to barrel, a breech-block, a frame in which both lock the breech-block to the barrel. barrel and breech-block are slidably mount- 11o 5. In a firearm, the combination, of a bared, a' locking member fulcrumed upon the rel, a breech-block, a frame in which both frame andconnected with the barrel, said barrel and breech-block are slidably mountbreech-block being locked in the firing posied, and a locking member fulcrumed upon tion by the locking member when in its northe frame and connected with the barrel, mal position, the disposition of the points 115 said breech-block being locked in the firing of connection with the locking member position by the locking member when in its being such that the forward pressure of the s normal position, the disposition of the barrel acts during the traverse of the bullet points of-connection with the locking memthrough the barrel to maintain the locln'ng ber being such that the forward pressure of member in normalposition in opposition to 120 the barrel acts during the traverse of the the backward pressure-of the breech-block, bullet through a portion of the length of and a reaction spring tending to return the the barrel to maintain the locking member breech-block to the firing -position when in normal position4 in opposition to the forced therefrom.

backward pressure of the breech-block. '12. `In a firearm, a barrel, a breecl1clos` 125 6. In a firearm, a barrel, a breech-closing ing member anda locking member, said member, and a locking member, said llock-` locking member serving when in oneposiing member-serving when in its normal potion to lock the breech-closing'member in sition to lock the breech-closing member in Ithe firing position,V the forward pressure of 65 the firing position, the forward pressure of the barrel during discharge serving to main- 130 tain the locking member in its normal position in opposition to the pressure of the breech-closing member tending to open the breech, and spring mechanism tending to close the breech.

13. In a firearm, the `combination of a barrel, a breech-block, means controlled by the forward pressure of the barrel during discharge to lock the breech-block to the barrel, said breech-block being released for recoil upon the diminution of the forward pressure of the barrel, extractor, ejector, and hammer cooking and magazine-feeding mechanism automatically actuated during the recoilrand return of the breech-block to the firing position.

14. In a firearm, the combination of a bar-- rel, means for closing the breech', means controlled by the forward pressure -of the gun barrel during discharge for maintaining the breech in closed condition during discharge,-

shell extracting and ejecting mechanism, cooking mechanism, and magazine-feeding mechanism, all automatically actuated upon the opening and closing of the breech.

15. In a firearm, the combination of a barrel, a breech-block, a frame in which the breech-block is slidably mounted, a locking member fulcrumed upon the frame and adapted when in its normal position to lock the breech-block tothe barrel, meanswhereby the forward pressure of the barrel during discharge acts upon the locking member to maintain the breech-block in its normal position, extracting and ejecting mechanism, cooking mechanism, and cartridge-feeding mechanism, all automatically actuated by the movement of the breech-block in the frame.

16. In a firearm, the combination of a barrel, a breech-block, a frame in which both barrel and breech-block are slidably mounted, a locking member fulcrumed upon the frame and connected with the barrel, said breech-block being locked in the firing position by the locking member when in its normal position, the disposition of the points of connection with the'locking member being such that the forward pressure of the lbarrel acts during the traverse of the bullet through a portion of the length of the barrel to maintain the locking member in normal position in opposition to the backward pressure of the breech-block, extracting and ejecting mechanism, cooking mechanism, and cartridge-feeding mechanism, all automatically actuated by the breech-block when released by the locking member.

17. In a firearm, the combination of a barrel, a breech-block, means controlled by the forward pressure of the barrel during discharge to lock the breech-block to the barrel, a reaction spring acting upon the breechblock to return it t-o the firing osition, extracting and ejecting mechanism, cooking in its normal position mechanism, and feeding mechanism, all automatically actuated by the movement ofthe breech-block from and to the ring position.

18. In a firearm, the combination of a barrel, means for closing the breech, means controlled by the forward pressure of the gun barrel during discharge for maintaining the breech in closed condition during discharge, the breech-block being released upon a diminution in the forward pressure of the barrel, a reaction spring acting upon the breechblock to return it to the firing position after recoil, extracting and ejecting mechanism,

cockng mechanism and cartridge-feeding mechanism, all automatically actuated during the recoil and return of the breech-block to the firing position.

19. In a firearm, the combination of a barrel, a breech-block, a frame in which the breech-block is slidablymounted, a locking member fulcrumed upon the frame and adapted when in its normal position to lock the breech-block to the barrel, means whereby the forward pressure of the barrel during discharge acts upon the locking member to maintain the breech-block -in its normal position, a reaction spring acting upon the breech-block and frame and tending to return the breech-block to its normal position, extracting and ejecting mechanism, cooking mechanism and cartridge-feeding mechanism, all automatically actuated upon the movement of the breech-block.

20. In a firearm, the combination of a barrel, a breech-block, a frame and receiver in which the barrel and the breech-block are slidably mounted, and a locking lever having a-rack and pinionconnection with the frame and a pivotal connection with the gun barrel, said locking lever serving when in its normal position to lock the breech-block in the firing position, the leverages and angies of engagement being such that the forward pressure of the barrel during the traverse of the bullet through a portion of the barrels length maintains the locking lever in its normal position against the backward pressure of. the cartridge shell upon the breech-block.

21. In a firearm, the combination of. a barrel, a breech-block, a frame and receiver in which the barrel and the breech-block are slidably mounted, a locking lever having a rack and pinion connection with the frame and a ivotal connection with the gun barrel, said locking lever serving when in its normal position to lock the breech-block in the firing position, the leverages and angles of engagement being such that the for i ward pressure of the barrel during the traverse of the bullet through a portion of the barrels length maintains the locking lever against the backward pressure of the cartridge shell upon the breech-block, a helical reaction spring conizo rel, said locking lever serving when in its,

normal position to loclr the breech-block in the firing position, the leverages and the angles of engagement being such that the forward pressure of the barrel during the trav'- erse of the bullet through a portion of the barrels length maintains the locking lever in its normal position against the backward .pressure of the cartridge shell upon the breech-block, the breech-block being released upon the diminution of the friction of the discharged bullet against the sides of the barrel, extractor Vand ejector mechanism, cooking mechanism, and magazine-feeding mechanism, all automatically actuated by the breech-block in itsmovement from 'and tothe firing position.

23. In a firearm, the combination of a barrel, a breech-block, a frame and receiver,

in which the barrel Aand the breech-block are slidably mounted, a locking lever having a rack and pinion connect-ion with the frame and a pivotal connection with the gun barrel, said locking lever serving when in its normal position to lock the breech-block in the ring position, the leverages and the angles of engagement being such that the forward pressure of the barrel during the traverse of the bullet through a portion of the barrels length maintains the locking lever in its normal position against the backward pressure of the cartridge shell upon the breech-block, a helical reaction spring connected with the frame to the rear of the breech block, a pitman connecting the breech-block with the end yof the reaction spring, a cartridge magazine, e] ecting mechanism, hammer cooking mechanism, and mechanism for feeding cartridges from the magazine to the firing chamber of the barrel, all automatically actuated upon the backward and return movements of the breeck-block.

' 24. In a firearm, the combination of a lthe frame and connected with extracting and a breech-block,- a frame in which the -'adapted when in its normal position to lock the breech-block to the barrel, and means whereby the forward pressure of the barrel during discharge acts upon the locking member to maintain the breech-block in its normal position.

26. In a firearm, the combination of a barrel whose bore is enlarged at the forward end, a breech-block, a frame in which both barrel andv breech-block are slidably mounted, and a locking member fulcrumed upon the barrel, said breech-block being locked in the firing posit-ion by the locking member when in its normal position, the disposition of the points of connection with the locking member being such that the forward pressure of the barrel acts during the traverse of the bullet through the barrel to maintain the locking member in normal position in yopposition to the backward pressure of the-breech-block.

27. `In a firearm, the combination of a barrel rifled at the rearward endand of smooth bore at the forward end, a breechblock, a frame and receiver in which the barrel and the breech-block are slidably mounted, and a locking lever having a rack and pinion connect-ion with the frame and a pivotal connection with the gun barrel, said locking lever serving when in its normal posit-ion ,to lock the breech-block in the firing posit-ion, the leverages land the angles of engagement being such that the forward pressure ofthe barrel durin the traverse of the bullet through a portion of the barrels length-maintains the locking lever in its n ormal position against the backward pressure of the cartridge shell upon the breech-block.

28; In a firearm, the combination of a barrel rifled at the rearward end and of smooth bore at the forward end, said bore being enlarged at 'the eXtreme forward end of the barrel, a breech-block, a frame and receiver in which the barrel and the breech-block are slidably mounted, and av locking lever having a rack and pinion connection with the frame and a pivotal connection with the gun barrel, said locking lever serving when in its normal position to4 lock the breech-block in the firing position, the leverages and the angles of engagement "being such that the. forward pressure ofthe barrel during the traverse of the bulletthrough a portion of the barrels length maintains the locking lever in its normal position against the backward pressure of the cartridge shell upon the breech-block.

29. In a firearm, the combination of a barrel, a breech-block, and means controlled by the forward pressure of the barrel dur- .mg discharge to' lock the breech-block to the barrel.

30. In a firearm, the combination of a barrel, means for closing the breech, and' means controlled by the forwardpressure of the gun barrel during discharge for maintaining the breech in closed condition, during dischargel 3l. In a fire arm,` the combination with a barrel and a breechblock, of means for positively locking said breech block to said barrel during discharge, said means being unlocked by the rearward movement of the breech block before the projectile leaves the barrel. f

32. In a fire arm, the combination with a barrel and breech block, of means controlled automatically upon discharge for positively locking said breech block to said barrel, said means being automatically unlocked by the rearward movement of thebreech block before the projectile leaves the barrel.,

33. In a fire arm, the combination with a bar-rel and a breech block, of means controlled by the passage 0f the project-ile through a portion of the barrels length for locking said breech block to said barrel, said means being unlocked 'by the rearward movement of the breech block before the projectile leaves the barrel.

V34. In a fire arm, the combination with a barrel and a breech block, of means actuated by forces developed by the engagement of the projectile and barrel after discharge for locking said breech block to said barrel, said means being unlocked by the rearward movement of the breech block before the projectile leaves the barrel.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of yJ une, 1908.

N. C. SCHELLENGER.

Witnesses LYNN A. WILLIAMS, LEONARD W. NovANDER. 

